SAVED BY GRACE

John relates in Revelation 7:9-14 that, after seeing the 144,000 sealed from all the tribes of Israel, he looked and there before him was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:
"Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.

Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes - who are they, and where did they come from?"

I answered, "Sir, you know."

And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The redeemed are in heaven not because of their merit but because of God's grace. Some of them were murderers, adulterers, fornicators, thieves, liars; others experienced broken relationships. At last, they are in heaven. They are there not because of they have done but because of what Jesus has done on the cross of Calvary; they are there not because of what they are but because of who God is. A timeless, self-existent, loving and merciful God. The only thing they did to be in heaven was to accept God's white robes, a symbol of God's immaculate character to cover their filthiness. My dear fellow pilgrim, do not yield to discouragement due to the sinful plight you are in now. Jesus is on the front porch waiting for you. He wants to offer you a white robe washed in His blood. He wants to change you and count you among the multitude of the redeemed from all ages. Now is the time to accept Jesus' gracious offer. Tomorrow may be too late! Saved only by God's grace!

Samuel M. Ntawiniga
Your fellow pilgrim